Commissioners give go-ahead for 11.3-metre Nationals
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• London Country Bus Services Ltd is to operate 11.3-metre Leyland National buses in the Potters Bar area — despite police objections on the grounds of road safety. The Metropolitan Commissioners on Friday granted London Country permission to run the buses — 15 in. longer than those now operating — on routes 303 and 303a.
Police objected to two sections of the route. They had told the Commissioners that buses on route 303 would have to pull across the central white line when entering one of its terminal points. And the new 303a buses would have to use a bridge at Brookmans Park which could present a hazard, mainly owing to the lack of visibility The Traffic Commissioners — who have travelled both routes — were told by London Country's assistant traffic manager, commercial, Mr Edward Allison, that because of a garage near the turn-around point, th; 303 would have to pull out to avoid the cars. The vehicles at the garage would prevent anyone coming up on the inside of the bus, while it was turning, he said. Dealing with the 303a route, Mr Allison said that school buses 11.3 metres long already use the bridge although it was used by few heavy lorries.
The Commissioners' chairman, Mr A. S. Robertson, said that he understood some improvements were to be made to the bridge. The difference in wheelbase lengths between the buses now run and those proposed is only two inches.
Giving the Commissioners' decision, Mr Robertson commented: "The difference between the vital statistics of the present buses and those proposed is small. We understand that the driver is in a better position in the new buses and that they are easier to handle from a driver's point of view. We are not aware that there is a particularly high rate of accidents in the area of the bridge."